The following are operational procedures for response to large-scale demonstrations which may lead to civil disobedience. It is necessary to formulate a response plan for the following reasons:
- To have the necessary personnel and equipment available.
- To establish areas of responsibility and a clear chain of command.
- To provide immediate and efficient handling of such demonstrations.
Procedure
Responsibility: It shall be the district senior commander’s or on-duty supervisor’s responsibility to call for the implementation of this procedure, and to ensure personnel are notified and equipment needs are met.
Notification of Personnel
- Assistant chief of the patrol operations division or designee.
- Ramsey County Jail.
- Ramsey County Emergency Communication Center (RCECC) Shift Supervisor.
- Watch commander
Notification of Agencies for Equipment
- Bus transportation: Metropolitan Council Transit Operations can be notified on a 24-hour basis at the dispatcher’s office --. They will provide a bus should the district senior commander deem it necessary.
- Barricades: Saint Paul Public Works can be notified for barricade needs.
- Video and photographic equipment will be provided by the affected districts.
- Cutting tools: Contact fire department for their assistance.
The district senior commander or on-duty district supervisor will:
- Assign necessary district personnel to provide videotaping service at the demonstration site.
- Ensure that barricades are available and posted in the required locations.
- Determine the need for additional personnel to assist the district. A request will be made to the assistant chief of patrol operations for additional support as needed.
The assistant chief of patrol operations will ensure the various districts and sections provide necessary personnel and support services to the demonstration site and processing center.
That may include:
- Hold over or call back of personnel.
- Activate the Mobile Field Force Team
- District section commanders to designate personnel and notify the RCECC Shift Supervisor of the names and assignment of personnel.
- Obtain clearance from the RCECC Shift Supervisor for use of alternative talk groups as required to effectively manage the incident. (See General Order 441.04: Radio Procedures.)
The district senior commander or her/his designee will assume command of the demonstration site.
Procedures to be followed:
- An officer will be assigned to the demonstration site to observe the activities and determine need for resources.
- Street barricades will be posted and staffed as necessary.
- Site commanders and representatives of the business or property will notify those in violation of statute or ordinance violations and request the illegal activity be stopped.
- If they refuse to comply with lawful requests, the spokesperson for the group may be immediately arrested and taken into custody. Backup officers may be called to the demonstration site with necessary equipment.
- The commanding officer at the site will direct the arrest for particular violations of the law after appropriate legal notice is given to the violators. A supervising officer will be assigned to notify each individual of the violation and request compliance before their arrest.
- All arrested parties will be transported to the processing site for identification, warrant checks, and booking.
- The Ramsey County Jail will determine the most efficient manner for processing the people arrested.
- Officers will be assigned to the site to monitor activity when arrests are completed. The district senior commander will release officers when s/he has determined their presence is no longer necessary.
- The commanding officer will assign an officer to initiate an original report. All other officers will write supplement reports describing their role in the detail.
- The district senior commander or designee will submit a supplement report and a demonstration procedure checklist upon completion of the detail.
- The district senior commander or her/his designee will submit an after action report to the assistant chief of operations.
Arrest Procedures:
The site commander will determine the tactics to be used in effecting arrests of those persons refusing to cease the criminal behavior. If arrests must be made they will be accomplished in an expeditious manner and under the direction of the district senior commander or designee. In every case, the arrests will be made using the least amount of force necessary to remove the persons from the scene.
Revised July 1, 2011